Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Tuesday's Forecast
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Winter sunshine
Bright sunshine most of the day with the mountains generally free of cloud. Snow cover on higher terrain.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
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Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Winter sunshine
Bright sunshine most of the day with the mountains generally free of cloud. Snow cover on higher terrain.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 14th April 2026
Last updated
Mon 13th Apr 26 at
4:17PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Patchy light rain and fog soon spread into Wales from the south, soon windy too, briefly gales. Starting sunny elsewhere, high cloud spreads north over England, later into central Scotland. Patchy rain into Lakeland to the west Highlands later, wind strengthens, gales coastal west Highlands. Northern Scotland stays sunny.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Mostly sunny, mild feel north; strengthening wind
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 10 to 15mph in morning, gradually strengthening, shifting southeasterly afternoon, to 20-30mph, though powerful gusts over tops and downslope to the northwest approaching 40mph evening, further deteriorating.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small for half the day or more, but likely becoming more blustery over higher terrain with time, the most powerful gusts later requiring additional effort to maintain stability with wind chill (not just on high tops).
How Wet?
Rain not expected until night
Likely dry during daylight. Into dusk, patchy rain develops from southwest, increasingly frequent overnight.
Cloud on the hills?
Little if any
Fragments of cloud around some slopes early morning, also mist in some glens at first. Dispersing to leave hills generally clear. A few odd cloud caps may reform on high tops late in the day, deteriorating overnight.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly sunny until at least midday, high cloud starting to build through afternoon, weakening the sunshine. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C rising to 4C; to 5C northern slopes, risk locally 6C northern Monadhliath. May cool around dusk but likely lifting again overnight. Feeling colder later in day as wind increases.
Freezing Level
900-1000m early in day, plus light frost in glens and corries around dawn. Rising to 1200-1300m around midday, then above all tops later.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 15th April 2026
Last updated
Mon 13th Apr 26 at
4:17PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 40-55mph, very gusty, not just at high elevations, locally variable direction, risk stronger for a time.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions with significant wind chill in exposure likely all day; chaotic gusts constantly affecting balance.
How Wet?
Frequently raining
Rain fairly widespread in the morning, local heavy falls, trending showery with breaks but remaining drizzly on high terrain even between spells of rain. Later, becoming more frequent and heavy again.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, local high breaks north
Extensive to at least the middle slopes early, likely lower slopes in the south and west, to glen level around Drumochter. A lifting trend, towards 700-900m, higher breaks later but high summits will struggle to clear. Bases always higher on northern slopes.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A few glimpses of weak afternoon sun, but otherwise mostly cloudy. Mixed visibility, often poor in cloud/drizzle but very good where out of cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 or 7C, a degree milder on northern Cairngorm slopes. Feeling like -8C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits. Overnight, lowering to touch the high summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 16th April 2026
Last updated
Mon 13th Apr 26 at
4:17PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 30-35mph, a general easing trend, speeds to 25mph or below later but also variably stronger.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery in exposure most of the day, notably early where walking more strenuous and feeling chilly.
How Wet?
Morning drizzle, soon showery
Drizzle on high terrain from dawn, gradually easing through morning with showers forming, which may be frequent and heavy for a time, easing later.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive early, improving, summit breaks
Most terrain above 700m in fog from dawn, lower towards Drumochter and south Monadhliath. Bases lift with cloud trending patchy, mostly above 1200m later with summit breaks, but variably returning to summits. Northern slopes east of Ben Macdui always clearest.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% rising to 50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun increasingly breaking out as morning goes, mostly sunny by later afternoon. Visibility becoming excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2C rising to 5 or 6C, mildest east Cairngorms. Feeling like -5 to -8C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
About 1200m at dawn, gradually lifting to clear all summits.
Planning Outlook
Milder from Wednesday into the weekend, but Scottish high tops below freezing at times, locally lower in the northwest. Unsettled conditions in the immediate near-term with showers (sometimes heavy with hail and lightning), occasionally more persistent rain, accompanied by often gusty winds, gales over mountains for periods, but also brighter spells between rain. With spring sunshine, temperatures will tend to rise several degrees during daylight, often becoming warm in the valleys; slopes north of major hill groups often milder. Saturday sees continued showers, mostly north and west, but higher pressure gradually builds through late weekend into early next week, bringing fewer showers and lighter winds; chilly overnight, but fairly mild spring days. Confidence is low regarding how long high pressure will establish.